Thread accumulator for weft replenishing looms



1945- w. H. WAKEFIELD THREAD ACCUMULATOR FOR WEF'I REPLENISHING LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1944 /N/ NTOR F 1 NHL TER H WHKEF/EL 04M. 7? (W QTroR/vgv Dec. 4, 1945. w. H.'WAKEFlELD THREAD ACCUMULATOR FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS -3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1944 //V V6. N 7' OR WHLTER H WHKEF/ELD W. H. WAKEFIELD THREAD ACCUMULATOR FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1944 Fan. 40

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QTTORNEY mulator Patented Dec. 4, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THREAD ACCUMULATOR FOR WEFT l i BEPLENISHING LOOMS Walter H. Wakefield,

to Crompton & Kno

This invention relates to improvements in pneumaticthread control systems for weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide a pneumatic waste thread collector the door of which can be opened for the removal of. accumulated threads without destroying the partial vacuum withinthe system.

When a bobbin is changed in a weft replenishingloom. there are generally two threadswhich must be removed, one connected to the outgoing bobbin and extending from the selvage into the shuttle box, and the other being attached to a thread holder and connected to the incoming bobbin. Boththreads are eventually cut at the selvage,fland it has been proposed heretofore to remove both of these threads after they are released at the selvage by pneumatic suction means including an accumulator in which the threads collect. From time to time it is necessary to open the accumulator to remove the weft ends, and when this is done the pneumatic system is open to the air and the partial vacuum is temporarily destroyed. If at this time the loom should have a weft replenishing operation or if one or another of the threads is cut so that it should be removed, the system will fail because of the temporary destruction of the partial vacuum.

It is an important object of my present invention to provide a pneumatic thread removing system including in its construction a thread col-- lector or accumulator so constructed that when it is opened for the removal of waste threads an auxiliary thread passage is brought into action to remove a thread which may be released by the loom during the time that the accumulator is open.

It is desirable that all of the threads be accumulated at a common point, whethe they are drawn into the system urider normal cohditions or whether they enter the system while the accuis open, and it is another object of my invention to provide means by which a thread which enters thesystem when the accumulator is open is led to a temporaryposition from which it is later drawn into the accumulator. In the operation of this feature of my invention all of the waste threads collect inthe same part of the accumulator and there is no opportunity for threads which enter the system While the accumulator is we open to reach inaccessible places from which they cannot readily be removed.

Itis a further object of my present invention f to provide a pneumatic thread accumulator with i a valve which is moved from normal position to abnormal position when the accumulator is open.

Worcester, Mass, assignor wles Loom Works, Worcester Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 3, 1944, Serial No. 538,568 15 Claims. (Cl. 139247) When moving to normal position the valve opens a main air path along which the waste threads move directly into the accumulator, but when moving to abnormal position the valve closes the main path and opens an auxiliary path which draws thread to a temporary position. After the valve returns to its normal position the thread moves from the auxiliary path to the main path and into the accumulator.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig 1 is a side elevation of part of a Weft re- .plenishing loom having my invention applied .holder I3. remover or pipe I4 which extends downwardly thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the thread accumulator looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the valve which controls the main and auxiliary thread paths, and indicating part of the inclosed auxiliary air path in dotted lines,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to a part of Fig. 3 but looking from the opposite direction and showing the valve and indicating part of the main air path,

Fig. 5 is a plan view. looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 2, parts being broken away to show the valve and the main and auxiliary compartments,

Fig. 6 is a view showing the thread remover or extractor as viewed from the center of the loom,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section through the thread receiver and floor of the accumulator and taken on line 'l! of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is an end view lookingin the direction of arrow 9,Fig. 8, u

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing av part of the floor of the accumulator and the screen associated with the auxiliary path,

Fig. 11 is an enlarged horizontal section on line l|-|I,Fig.2,and 1 Figs. 12 and 13 are detail horizontal sections on lines |2-l2 and |3l3, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown a loom frame It which supports a reserve bobbin magazine H supplied with reserve bobbin 12 from which weft ends Wextend to .a thread The latter is connected to a thread and is attached as at l5 to a thread accumulator or collector mechanism designated generally at A. The loom is also provided with a thread extractor shown more particularly in Fig. 6 and including a head l6 connected to the upper end of a conduit or pipe H which extends down to the accumulator A. The lay 20 shown in Fig. 6 carries a placement. cit-which by one of the bobbins the magazine II leave the two threads which must be removed.

During a replenishing operation oneof the bob bins from the magazine is inserted into;.the;shuttle and the bobbin from the shuttle in the usual manner-. end W of the bobbin transferred; from the magazine extends from the thread: holdeit' t3v the shuttle and will eventually becut at. the selvage of the cloth and be free so that it can be drawn into the thread holder l3. of the outgoing bobbin extends from a po nt on the lay under the magazine toward the selvage andfiwhen this latter thread is cut at the selvageit will be drawn into the extractor head [6. Thethreads E" and W are controlled'much in the same manner asthat set forth in Turner Patent The accumulator A is Hollow and ordinarily sealed against theatmosphere and by means of an airpump or fan not shown subatmospheric pressures are created within the accumulator through pipe 23 so that the threads can be drawn there'nto pneumatically. g

Except as noted hereinafter the matter thus far described may be similar to constructions already proposed and ofitself forms no part of my'presenti'nvention. 1

I'n' carrying" my presenti'nvention into effect I construct the accumulator A. in such a way that threads collected in it. can be removed without destroying the partial vacuum which operates'to draw threads from the. thread holder l3 and extractor llf nto theaccumulator; Referring'more particularly'to Figs; 2 t-5'.'I have shown a bracket 25 attached to' the loom frame] 0 andconnected to the inner sidewall 26 cfthe accumulator A so that the latter" w-ill be held in fixed position. As showrrmore particularly'in'Fig; the accumulator has frontqand back walls.30 and 3|, respectively,

andjantou ter sidewall 32'. :Abottom 33 islocated a" short distance above the floor and atop 34 is fastened" to the accumulator as at 35 and ordi narily closes the .upper part of the latter.

As viewed in Fig. 5 the rear right part of the interior of: the accumulator is provided. with a relativelvsm'all auxiliary compartment 40 the backand' right sides oflwhich as viewed in Figs; 5 and 12 areformed' in part by the rearwall 3! and the outer side wall 32. The front part of compartment 40 isdefined by avertical wall 4 I while theleft' side of" the" compartment is providedby a backwardly and forwardly extending vertical wall4 2.' Thewalls 4| and 42 extend from the floor to the cover, and together with walls 31 and 32 -make compartment 401 airtight except. asnoted hereinafter. The pipe 23'communi'cates with the compartment 40 through rear wall 3| and'maintains sub-atmospheric; pressureswwith'in. the compartment; The remainder of the interior. of the accumulator. forms a main thread compartment 4:3f in: which the Waste. threads collect.

The front" wall; 30* has any aperture 45 whichis normally closed bya preferably transparent door 4lih'ingedZas-at'4'1'to. the wall 30. The door. is ordinarily" held" closed? by the sub-atmospheric pressures within the compartment 43 but can be 22 is expelled downwardly The weft into;

The thread opened when necessary to permit removal of waste threads.

A second or false wall 50 is secured to side wall 42 of compartment 40 and is spaced therefrom a slight distance as suggested in Fig. 5 by any appropriate means, such as spacing washers 5|, see Fig: 3.? Locatedw between walls.- 42- and. 50 is a flat valve 52. pivoted as at53 with resp ct to the walls 42 and 50. A fitting 54 on the door 46 is connected by rod 55 to the upper end of the valve so that whenever the door is opened the valve will be swung angularly about its pivot. The upper part of the valve has a port 56 behind which extends a solid vane 51, and the lower part of the valve .below" the pivot 53 is provided with a second 56 and 58' are moved from their normal position for a purpose to be described.

The valve 52 is for the purpose of controlling the air' paths through the accumulator" andioperates normally to maintain a main air'path open' and an auxiliary path closed, but when thedoos' is open the condition with respectt'o th'epaths reversed. The air paths pass through a thread' receiver 65 shown more particularly in Figs. 7,3 and 9. This receiver has tubes 66 and 61 which are connected, respectively, to the thread remover pipe l4 and the thread removing extractor conduit ll. The receiver has a flange 68' secu-rd to the bottom 33 of the accumulator as at 1-0, and has a: cavity Tl therein which, as shown more particularly in Fig. 7, provides main andauxiliary thread passages 12 and 13, respectively. Holes "I4- and 15 in the bottom 33 register, respectively, with the passages 12 and 13.

Extending upwardly from the floor 33 are two hollow heads 15' and 11 communicating at their lower ends, respectively, with the holes 14 -and l5 and held in fixed position on the bottom 33- by screws or the like 18 shown in Fig. I1. The-upper end of the main head 'IB is bent'hori'zontally and secured as at to the wall 4-2 in register with holes BI and 82 in the walls 42 and"50 respectively, see Fig. 12. The auxiliary'head- I l-is bent horizontally at its upper end and secured as at 83 to wall 50 and registers with holes't l and 85'formed in walls 42 and 50'', respectively.

The upper'parts of the wal1s'42' and 50 are provided, respectively, with holes and 91-1 seeFi'g. 13, which are aligned communication between the main and auxiliary compartments of the accumulator. Ifdesiredfjon'e of these openings, such as 9|, see Fig; 13; may be provided with a screen 92 held on wall 50 at 93 to prevent passage of threads from the main to the'auxiliary compartment. The holes 90and 9| and the screen 92 .provid'ea screened portdes ignated. generally at fltbet'ween the two compartments.

The upper end of hole 15 is provided with a screen 95which may be carried by a rin'gLBGset in the bottom 33 and held in position by theheaid ill The screen 95 permits air. to pass upwardly from the hole 15 through thehead 1.1. but prevents. the passage of threads, and together with the hole 15 and passage 13 formsa' thread'trap.

Under normal operating conditionsthe doorof the main compartment is closed andlthe' valve .52 is in the position shown.in.fulll li'nes in l lgslb and 4 with. its port. 56 aligned with:. the holesfill and 9t sothat themain and?auxiliary-compartments are in pneumatic communicationlwitl'reach other. Also, under these conditions. port,'58is alignedwith holes BI and 82 so that passage 12,

and serve asa' pneumatic hole 14 and head 16 are in pneumatic commu-' nication with the main compartment. The solid vane 59 01' the valve is acrossthe holes 84 and 85 and the auxiliary compartment is disconnected pneumatically from the head 11. Air therefore cannot be drawn through the passage 13 or the hole 15. Under these normal conditions a stream of air moves down from each thread remover I4 and ILenters the thread receiver 65 and follows along the main air path upwardly through passage 12 and hole 14 and through head Hiand port 58 into the main compartment 43, and thence out through the screen 92 and port 56 into the auxiliary compartment 40. If a thread is released by the loom incident to a replenishing operation under these conditions it will be drawn into the thread receiver 65 and will then follow alongthe main air path as far as the screen 92, where it will be stopped and remain in the main compartment 43. Since the door is closed under these conditions sub-atmospheric pressures I aremaintained in compartment 43.

Aftera suilicient number of threads have accumulated in the main compartment to require their-removal, the door 46 will be opened by knob I to afford access to the main or thread compartment 43, being raised to some such position as indicated at I in Fig. 3. At this time the connector 55 swings the valve or controller 52 from the full to the dotted. line positions of Figs. 3

and 4 and alters the paths of air through the accumulator. When the door is open and the valve is in the dotted line position of Fig. 3, for instance, the solid vane 51 thereof moves across the aligned openings 90 and 9|, thereby shutting off the auxiliary compartment 40 from the main compartment and the atmosphere through the open door. At the same time the solid vane 59 moves across the aligned openings 8| and 82,

thereby interrupting the main air path, and away from openings 84 and 85, thereby opening communication between the interior of head 11 and the auxiliary compartment 40. Under these conditions the air moves along the auxiliary path irom the thread receiver 65 up through passage 13 and hole 15, screen 95, head 11, and through the alignedopenings 84 and 85 into the auxiliary compartment. Since the latter has been scaled from the atmosphere by the vane 51 of the valve 52 this last traced air path is preserved despite the fact that the door 46 is open. The valve 52 is thus seen to serve as a controller for both the main and auxiliary air paths and determines into which compartment a thread shall go. The

passage 12, hole 14, head 16 and aligned holes 8l. and 82 constitute a primary path between either remover l4 or I! and the main compartment, while passage 13, hole 15, head 11 and aligned holes 84 and 85 constitute a secondary or auxiliary path leading from the removers to the auxiliary compartment.

If, while the door is open a thread should be received from either of the thread removers I4 or II it will enter the receiver 55 and move along the auxiliary recess 13 but will be prevented from entering the head 11 by screen 95. It will thus be held trapped below the screen 95 until the door is closed and normal conditions are reestablished, at which time the thread will drop from the screen into the recess 13 and follow along the main air path into compartment 43.

While'I have shown the screen 95 it is not es-. sential in all features of my invention, inasmuch as the thread which may enter the receiver 65 when the door is open can pass into the auxiliary compartment and in fact can pass from the latter through the fan. I wish it to be understood therefore that so far as certain features of my invention are concerned, such as the coritrol of the two thread paths, the screen is not necessary. The screen, however, is inexpensive and by its use assurance is given that all threads which enter the receiver 65 will be collected in the main compartment.

The receiver 65 has been shown with two inlets 66 and 61, but it may not be necessary in all the uses to which my invention can be put to have two inlets. Thus, if only one of the thread controllers l3 or I6 is used there will be only one inlet for the receiver, and Iam not necessarily limited to the use of two inlets for receiving the threads from both the thread controllers l3 and I6 From the foregoing it will be seen that have the other closed, and that opening of the door closes the main path and opens the auxiliary path simultaneously with sealing of the auxiliary com-- partment from the atmosphere by closure of the screened port 94. These paths are alternately operative, the one to receive threads under normal conditions and pass them into the main compartment, and the other controlling threads when the door is open and either allowing such threads to :pass to the auxiliary compartment if screen 95 is absent, or trapping such threads under the screen when the latter is used so that upon restoration of normal conditions such trapped threads will move into the main compartment. It will also be seen that I have provided a simple form of valve normally positioned to establish communications between the two compartments and close the auxiliary goath, but movable to eiTect pneumatic disconnection between the two compartments and open the auxiliary path. Furthermore, the thread receiver 65 afiords convenient means for joining the two air paths to the thread removers l4 and IT. The main air path includes the main compartment, which, being normally closed, preserves an inclosed path from the removers l4 and I1 to the auxiliary compartment. I do not wish necessarily to be limited to the particular means for controlling the valve as set forth herein, but it is convenient to have the ing from the spirit and scope of the invention and .I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom hav ng a. pneumatic remover for waste threads, means constituting .a normally closed main thread compartment, other means constituting an inclosed auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exst and pneumat cally connected with the main compartmentthrough a screened opening, a door for the main compartment normally iii citseeiposaicn and movaple to open position ficr'removaior waste threads; from the main comfromthe remover to the auxiliary compartment,

and a valve connected to the door and in one position when the door isclosed and in another position when the door is open, said valve effecmews-emu said one" position to maintain pneumatic connection between said compartments through said screened opening and between the mam-compartment and the primary a'ir'path but close said secondary air path. and said valve effective when in the other'position thereof to close sai'd screened openingand said primary airpath and open said secondary air path.

2'. In aweft replenishing loom having a pneumatic remover'for waste threads which occur inenema replenishing operations, thread accumulato-r"mechanism including a; normally closed main thread compartment and an inclosed auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, a, normally closed door for the main compartment, means defining a screened opening between said compartments, means providing two incl'osed air paths leading from said remover, one path leading to the main compartment and the other air path leading to the auxiliary compartment, and a valve connected to the door and in one position when the door is closed to permit pneumatic communication, between said compartments through the screened opening" and maintain said one air path in communication with the main compartment and close said other air path, and said valve being in anotherposition when the door is open and closing said screened opening and said one air path and opening said other air path. I

3. In a pneumatic control system for a weft replenishing loom having a thread remover for Waste threads, an accumulator having a normally closed main compartment for the waste threads and an inclosed aux liary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, means constituting a screened opening between said compartments, a door for the main compartment normally closed, means providing a normally inclosed main air path extending fromthe remover through the main compartment and said screened opening into the auxiliary compartment, other means providing an inclosed auxil ary air path out of pneumatic communication with the main compartment and to the auxiliary compartment, and a controller for the air paths capable of occupying either a normal position when the door is closed or an abnormal position when the door is open, said controller when innormal position maintaining said main air path open and the auxiliary path closed and when in abnormal position closing the main path and maintaining the auxiliary path open.

4. In a pneumatic control system for a weft replenishing loom having a thread remover for waste threads, an accumulator having a normalclosed' main compartmentfor the waste threads and an inclosed auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, means constituting a screenedopening between said compartments, meansproviding a normally closed main air path extending from the remover through the main compartment and said screened extending from the remover mary air path-leading opening. into the auxiliary compartment; other means, providing: an: inclose'd auxiliary? airf'path out of pneumatic communication with theima-i-n: compartment and extending from"tlteremover tothe" auxiliary'corripartment, and a controller for the air paths capable of occupying eithena normal-position or an abnormal position, saidy controller when in normal positionmaintaining: said; main air path open and the auxiliary pathclosed-and when inabnormal position closing the main path and maintaining: the auxiliarypathi n. i

5; In a pneumatic control system for a weit replenishing loom having a threadremover for wastethreads, an accumulator raving a-normala ly'closed main compartment for the wastethreads and'an inclosed auxiliarycompartment'in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, means: consti-- tuting a screened opening between said compartments, hollow means-providing aninclosed prifrom the remover tothe main compartment, said hollow means, main compartment and screenedopening= providing a main air path between the remover and auxiliary compartment, other means providing aninclosed auxiliary air path communicatingwith the-main path and out of pneumatic communication-with the main compartment and extendingfromthe remover to the auxiliary compartment,..a thread tra in the auxiliary pathadjacent tothemain air path, and a controller for the air paths capable of occupying either a normal position or an abnormal position, said controller wheniin normal position maintaining said main air path open and tl-e auxiliary path closed and when in abnormal position: closing the main-path and maintaining the auxiliary pathopen, a threadmoving along. the auxiliary path when the-latter is open being held-by the trap'adjacent to the main path and being drawnalong the main-path-int0 the main compartment when again open.-

6-. Ina pneumatic control system for. a weft replenishing loom having a thread remover for waste threads; an accumulator having a normally closed main compartment for the Waste threads and: an inclosed auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, means constituting a screened opening between said compartments, hollow means. providing aninclosed primary air path extending fromthe remover to the main compartment,v other hollow means roviding an inclosed' secondary air path' ou't' of pneumatic communication with the main compartment and extending from the remover. to the auxiliary compartment, a thread stopping" screen located inthe secondar path, and a controller for the air paths capable of occupying either a normal position or an abnormal position said controller when in normalposition maintaining the mainair path is ble of pneumatic "closed compartment through said screened opening, other means providing an inclosed auxiliary air path out of pneumatic communication with the thread compartment y stituting a thread trap i the inclosed compartment, a normally closed thread compartment --in said main air path capacommunication with the in- I and extendingirom the remover to the inclosed compartment,and a controller for the air paths capable of occupying either a normal position or an abnormal position,

said controller when in normal position maintaining said main air path path closed and when in open and the auxiliary abnormal position closlngthe main path and maintaining the auxiliary path open.

closed compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, meansconstituting a screened opening for said compartment, means providing a normally inclosed main air path extending from theremover through said screened opening into the inclosed compartment, a normally closed thread compartment in said main air path capable of pneumatic communication with the inclosed compartment through said screened opening, other means providing an inclosed auxiliary air path out of pneumatic communication with the thread compartment and extending from the remover to the inclosed compartment, means conin the auxiliary path in pneumatic communication with the main path, and a controller for the air paths capable of occupying either a normal position or an abnormal position, said controller when in normal position maintaining said main air path open and the auxiliary path closed and when in abnormal position closing the main path and maintaining the auxiliary path open, a thread entering the auxiliary path when the controller is in abnormal position being stopped by said trap and subsequently drawn into the thread compartment when the controller is in normal position.

9. In a pneumatic control system for a weft replenishing loom having a thread remover for waste threads, an accumulator having a thread compartment and also an inclosed auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, means constituting a screened opening connecting said compartments, a normally closed door for the thread compartment, means providing a normally inclosed main air path extending from the remover through said screened opening and including said thread compartment and capable of pneumatic communication with the auxiliary compartment, other means providing a closed auxiliary air path out of pneumatic communication with the thread compartment and extending from the remover to the auxiliary compartment, and a controller for the air paths connected to the door and capable of occupying either a, normal position when the door is closed or an abnormal position when the door is open, said controller when in normal position maintaining said main air path open and the auxiliary path closed and when in abnormal position closing the main path and maintaining the auxiliary path open.

10. In a pneumatic control system for a weft replenishing loom having a thread remover for waste threads, an accumulator having a normally closed main compartment for the waste threads and an auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, means constituting a ary air path out 8; In a pneumatic control system for a weft re ,plenishing, loom having a thread remover -for waste threads, an accumulator having an inscreened opening betweensaid compartments, a

an inclosed Iprimary ,air path extending from the remover to the main compartment, other means of pneumatic communication with the main compartment and extending from the remover to the-auxiliary compartment, and a valve movably mounted on the accumulator and connected to the door, said valve having a port and a solid vane for the screened opening and having another port for the primary airpath and another solid vane for both the primary and secondary air paths, the door when closed, positioning said valve so that said ports maintain the primary air pathand screened opening open and said other vane in a position closing the secondary path, and saiddoor when open positioning said valve so that the first vane closes the screened opening and said other vane closes the primary airpath and opens the secondary air path.

1 1. In pneumatic control mechanism for a weft replenishing loom having a thread remover ,for waste threads, an accumulator having a normally closed main thread compartment for the waste threads and an auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, a screened open-- ing pneumatically connecting said compartments,

means providing main and auxiliary inclosed air paths leading from the thread remover, one of said paths leading through the main thread compartment and said screened opening to the auxiliary compartment and the other path leading directly to the auxiliary compartment without having pneumatic communication with the main compartment, and a controller for said paths movable to difierent ositions to make said paths alternately open so that the air in one path only at a time is operative to draw Waste threads from the remover.

12. In a pneumatic thread control system for a weft replenishing loom having a thread remover for waste threads, an accumulator having 9, normally closed main compartment for the waste threads and an auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, means providing two inclosed air paths each leading from the remover to the auxiliary compartment, one of said paths extending through the main compartment and pneumatically communicating therewith and the other path leading directly to the auxiliary compartment without communicating pneumatireplenishing loom having a thread remover for waste threads remaining incident to weft replenishing operation, an accumulator having a main compartment for the waste threads and an auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist, means defining a primary inclosed air path between the thread remover and said main compartment, other means defining an inclosed secondary air path between the remover and auxiliary compartment out of pneumatic communication with the main compartment, means in the secondarypath constituting a thread trap pneumatically communicating with the primary path and ad acent thereto, said paths joining each other adjacent to said thread trap, and a controller for said air paths movable to two providing an inclosed secondtrap being drawn therefrom matic communication path only is open and the other position of which said secondary path only is open, a thread in "the 'by the air 'in the primary pathwhen the latter is open.

14;. T111 a pneumatic control system for a weft replenishing loom having a thread remover for waste threads, an ccumulator having a normally closed main compartmentfor the waste threads.

and an auxiliary compartment in which sub-atmospheric pressures exist and normally in pneuwith'the main compartrnent, a'thread receiver communicating pneumaticallywith said remover, means defining main and auxiliary 'inclosed air paths, said receiver -formed with two communicating thread passages one of which is located in the main air path and the other of which is located in the-auxiliary air path, athread trap'adjacent to the thread passage in the auxiliary path, both of said paths leading ,fromflthe thread receiver to the auxiliary comvparliment and the main pathleading through and iPl.1e umaticall y communicating with the main compartment and the auxiliary path communieating directly withthe auxiliary .compartm'ent and being out f-pneumatic communication with the main compartment, and'a controller for said. airpaths movable to -two positions inone of which the main path is open and the auxiliary path is closed and in the other position of which :the main path is closed and the auxiliary path 'is open, so that a thread moving from the receiver long the auxiliary path will he 'held' by-said thread trap-and prevented irom entering theauxiliary compartmenh said-threadmoving-along the main air path when the'latter is subsequently opened and .the auxiliary path is subsequently closed. S

--15. In athread receiver tor-a loom'having waste threads to be removed and operating :with an accumulator having main and auxiliary compartments, said receiver having a passage through which waste threads move into the :receiver and said receiver having two-thread passages, one for each of said compartments.

WALTER WAIQEFIELD; 

